Demand for the A330 is slowing as Airbus starts taking orders for a new-engine version of the plane that it says it will begin delivering at the end of 2017.

Airbus chief executive Tom Enders said the firm could cut production of the aircraft to less than six a month, if it deemed this necessary.

"We have quite a few campaigns ongoing, including some that are essential for filling slots in 2016," he said. "The current assumption is we will go down to rate six, if we find we have to further adapt, we will do so."

'Positive outlook'

Mr Enders told the BBC the only reason that Boeing was currently ahead of Airbus in terms of production was because Boeing's 787 aircraft was "up and running and they are producing it at 100-plus a year and the Airbus 350 is two years behind".

He said in a couple of years Airbus would be competing neck and neck with Boeing once more in terms of output.

Mr Enders said Airbus was producing around 30 A380 superjumbos a year and dismissed talk that his firm could mothball production.

"I have a pretty positive outlook and perspective for our big bird," he said.

In December, Airbus shares fell more than 10% - their worst one-day fall for six years - on concerns that it could halt production of its A380 superjumbo in 2018.

Last month, Airbus parted company with the head of its military programme after governments including Germany, France and Turkey complained about delays to the A400M military transport plane.

Built at a cost of €20bn with orders from several European countries, the A400M was a fixed-priced contract that hit production problems and cost-overruns.

Mr Enders said Airbus was making "good progress on giving customers more visibility on the delivery and status of the military transporter".